In Lehigh Valley, the unseasonably warm start to October continues

Stephanie Sigafoos/The Morning Call

Leaves are turning in one spot on a tree in east Allentown on Tuesday. The Lehigh Valley is dealing with a stretch of unseasonably warm weather, and temperature plays a role in how the leaves look in the fall.

Leaves are turning in one spot on a tree in east Allentown on Tuesday. The Lehigh Valley is dealing with a stretch of unseasonably warm weather, and temperature plays a role in how the leaves look in the fall. (Stephanie Sigafoos/The Morning Call)

The average high temperature for the Lehigh Valley today (Oct. 3) is 69 degrees, but the start of fall isn’t exactly going according to plan.

The region remains trapped in a summer-like weather pattern, and the unseasonable warmth will continue for the next several days.

Monday’s high temperature was 79 degrees, and the National Weather Service said it reached 80 on Tuesday. The warmth and humidity fueled widespread severe weather, especially in the North Pocono area.

According to the Scranton Times-Tribune, a funnel cloud reportedly touched down in Spring Brook Township, and a two-car crash in Roaring Brook Township claimed the life of a Scranton man.

Whether the cloud actually touched down has not yet been confirmed by experts, Lackawanna County Emergency Services Director David Hahn told the paper. The report came in about 6:15 p.m. as storms moved through the area and a tornado warning was in effect for Lackawanna and surrounding counties.

Tornado-warned storms brought down trees and caused damage in other places near the I-80 corridor, but the Lehigh Valley ultimately escaped the worst of the severe weather.

Despite our brush with Tuesday’s storms, the weather service says the overnight rainfall will lead to areas of fog and lingering clouds this morning.

Skies are expected to clear later on today, with high temperatures approaching the upper 70s to low 80s across the region. That’s quite a difference from those average highs in the upper 60s we should be experiencing.

More storms on Thursday?

The weather service says a cold front will slide through the Lehigh Valley on Thursday, touching off another round of storms not expected to trigger severe weather this time around.

Meteorologists say the showers and storms may continue into Thursday evening before diminishing overnight. There is expected to be quite a sharp temperature contrast behind the front, with lows by Friday morning in the upper 40s to low 50s over the southern Poconos into Northwest NJ.

Farther south, including here in the Allentown area, lows should generally be in the mid 50s.

Friday and Saturday should bring another taste of true October weather, but enjoy it while it lasts. Temperatures should be close to 80 again on Sunday.

Here is the extended forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today

Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the morning.

Tonight

Patchy fog between 11pm and midnight. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 57. Calm wind.

Thursday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Calm wind becoming north around 6 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.